NDP calls for cost of living help as food bank usage hits record-high on Ford’s watch

QUEEN’S PARK – NDP Poverty and Homelessness critic Chandra Pasma (Ottawa West-Nepean) is calling on the Ford government to give people cost of living help as a new Feed Ontario report reveals record-high food bank use.

According to the report, “between January 2022 and September 2022, the number of people accessing food banks increased 24 percent over the previous year.” Since the pandemic, first-time visitors are up 64 per cent, with one in three people accessing food banks for the first time.

“People are getting crushed under the skyrocketing cost of living,” said Pasma. “You shouldn’t have to turn to food banks to help feed your kids and family when you have a job, but that is a reality in Ontario right now.”

In its report, Feed Ontario cites precarious employment, poor employment and disability supports, and unaffordable housing as reasons why people are turning to food banks in numbers never seen before.

“It’s shameful that food bank use has hit a record high on Doug Ford’s watch,” said Pasma. “The NDP has repeatedly asked this government to take action to help people struggling with the skyrocketing cost of living, and Mr. Ford keeps refusing.

“The NDP is again calling for cost of living help for families so they don’t have to keep turning to the food bank,” said Pasma. “Double social assistance rates. Bring back and expand rent control. Crack down on price gouging in the grocery aisle.”